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Photo: Andrew Cunningham

Raspberry Pi’s New Board, Dyson V10 Vacuum Testing, and a Pick for Hanging Pants: New This Week

Published March 23, 2018

Michael J Kennelly

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The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is the new version of the endlessly adaptable microcomputer that taught Wirecutter staff writer Thorin Klosowski how to love technology again. Faster Wi-Fi and Ethernet is likely the only change you’ll notice—it now supports faster 802.11ac networks and can reach Ethernet speeds of 315 Mbps. And it still costs just $35, which makes it seem like a no-brainer upgrade. But for now, we actually recommend that new tinkerers snap up the still available, original 3 Model B.

Although the basic Raspbian OS works with the 3B+, it’ll take a few months for some offshoot distributions—custom versions of Linux that hobbyists have written to run on Raspberry Pis—to catch up in compatibility. So you won’t be able to do some fun and weird stuff right away.

Additionally, the CanaKit Starter Kit we like for first-timers has a markup right now for the 3B+ version when compared with the 3B one, and it’s not worth the extra $10 for the new version. (We like the kit because it includes an SD card and a case along with the LEDs, switches, and resistors necessary to get the most out of your new Raspberry Pi). If you just want to start with the board itself, the 3B has Prime shipping. But you still have to order the 3B+ from one of six non-Amazon retailers if you’re in the US. One of our editors, Andrew Cunningham, ordered from CanaKit and had to pay an additional $15 in shipping.

The CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 starter kit offers almost everything you need to start using the Pi right away, including the Pi, a microSD card, a case, a power supply, and cables. You need only a keyboard, mouse, and screen.

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Overall, the changes with the new model are largely insignificant for someone tinkering with a single-board computer for the first time. From a design standpoint, the board is “neater” as the microchips needed for each function have become miniaturized. But the whole unit remains the same size—we speculate to maintain compatibility with the existing ecosystem of Raspberry Pi accessories. The bump from Bluetooth 4.1 to 4.2 won’t matter to most people. Nor will the improved heat management (which is only needed for advanced, resource-heavy applications). It even uses the same processor (although it’s clocked slightly faster: 1.4 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The improved data speed (dual-band WiFi and pseudo-Gigabit Ethernet) will really be the only noticeable thing. Raspberry Pi designer Roger Thornton runs through all the new elements in full detail in this video.

At Wirecutter, we think no one should early adopt something without a good reason. And small updates between Raspberry Pi generations do not render older models obsolete. Thorin currently has uses for eight Raspberry Pis at home, with boards from across each of the computer’s three generations. For now, save a few bucks on shipping and get the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B—or the CanaKit that comes with the 3B. We’ll update our piece on the Raspberry Pi when it’s clearly worth it for most people to get the new model.